Track connection.



J. W. BLOWER.

TRACK CONNECTION.

APPLIOATIQN FILED 00T.6. 1910.

999 ,744, Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

JOSEPH W. BLOWER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

TRACK CONNECTION.

Specification of Iletters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

Application filed October 6, 1910. Serial No. 585,576.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. BLOWER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county ofFranklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Track Connections, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to track connections, and has particularapplication to a novel and improved form of connection adaptedparticularly for securing the rails of a trackway to metallic crossties.

It is my purpose in the present instance, to devise a form of connectionwhereby the ordinary track rails may be secured and firmly fastened inposition upon metallic cross ties, the latter being of any desired typeor form, such as short sections of track rails.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofconnecting strap or clip adapted to embrace one side of the rail, andwhich conforms to the general shape of the tie and is provided with amember adapted to embrace the base of the rail and hold the same inposition relative to the tie, the opposite side of the rail being heldin position by an improved form of Spike connection hereinafterdescribed;

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a form ofconnection which will be simple and durable in construction and whichwill hold the rail firmly in position, thereby obviating the liabilityof spreading.

\Vith the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view,my invent-ion consists in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts set forth in and falling within scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is an end view of a section of:-trackway embodying my improvements, the cross tie being shown in sideelevation and the rail in section, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of aportion of such trackway. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the linewx of Fig. 1, and, Fig. 4: is a sectional view taken on the line yy ofFig. 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numeral 1designates the ordinary railway rail, adapted to rest upon the metallictie 2 and as heretofore stated, the latter may be in the form of a shortsection of track rail. In order to firmly secure the rail to the tie, Iprovide a clip member or strap also formed of metal having the endportions 8, extending in opposite directions and adapted to embrace theground or the like, said end portions merging into the inclined sections4, which embrace the base of the tie, the body portion of the strapbeing then extended upward as at 5 to embrace opposite sides of thevertical web 6 of the tie, the central portion 7 of said clip or strapextending over and conforming to the contour of the ball of the tie.

In order to secure the connecting member in position, I may employ anysuitable means such as a bolt or rivet 8, extending through the verticalsections of the strap and the vertical web of the rail, said bolt beingheld in position by a nut 9. The portion of the connecting member whichextends over the top or ball of the tie is slotted or split as at 10, toform the upwardly extending member 11 which is adapted to embrace theupper surface of the base of the rail, the latter being clamped betweensaid member 11 and the adjacent body portion of the device, the latterextending a considerable distance beyond the end of the member 11 andbeneath the base of the rail. The opposite side of the rail ispreferably secured in position through the medium of .a spike 12 havinga bifurcated shank 13,

said shank extending through a vertical bore 14 in the ball of the crosstie, the split members of the shank then passing through the transverseopening 15 in the web of the tie and embracing opposite sides of saidweb, the head 16 of said spike bearing against the top surface of thebase flange of the rail 1, as is clearly shown in Figs 1, 2 and 4. Bysuch a construction and arrangement, the rail may be rapidly yetsecurely fastened in position, and the liability of spreading greatlyreduced. It will be seen that I have provided a simple yet effectivemeans for holding a metallic rail to a metallic tie and one which may beplaced in position quickly and at comparatively little cost.

I Vhile I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment ofmy invention, I wish it to be understood that I do,not limit myself toall the precise details of construction shown, as modification andvariation may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionor exceeding the scope of the claims.

What I claim, is 1. The combination with a rail and metallie cross tiestherefor, 01"? means for securing the rails to the ties, said meanscomprising a strap member embracing the ball and the web of the rail,the end sections of the strap overlying the top of the base of the tie,said strap having a member split therefrom and adapted to embrace thebase of the rail, means for connecting said device to the cross tie, anda spike at the opposite side of the rail and having a split shank, themembers of which embrace opposite sides of the Web of the tie.

2. The combination With arail and a metallic cross tie therefor, ofmeans for connecting the rail to the tie comprising a mem ber conformingin contour to the shape of the tie and having laterally extending endportions, the upper portion of said member being split to embrace thebase of the rail, means for fastening the member to the tie, and aconnecting device for the opposite side of the rail comprising a spikepassing through the ball of the tie and having a split shank, themembers of Which project through an opening in the Web of the tie andembrace opposite sides of said tie.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH W. BLOWER. WVitnesses JOSEPH P. EAGLESON, R. B. CAVANAGI-I.

Copies of this patent inay be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

